At a pivotal moment for European air transport, Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG, has been re-elected as President of ACI Europe (Airports Council International), delivering a powerful message to Brussels. His intervention was far from a routine acceptance speech; it was a profound analysis of the systemic risks threatening the continent’s connectivity, centered on the EU’s long-awaited but controversial Entry/Exit System (EES).
The Digital Border and the Risk of Paralysis
The EES, designed to replace manual passport stamping with an automated biometric registration system for third-country nationals, represents the EU’s “big bet” on border security. However, Schulte warns that theory is far removed from practice. According to the ACI Europe President, a lack of adequate preparation, technical glitches, and delays in software delivery by member states could lead to unprecedented airport delays.
“This is not just a technical upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in how we manage passenger flows,” Schulte emphasized. Concerns focus primarily on the processing time per passenger, which is expected to increase significantly during the initial biometric enrollment. For airports with limited space in passport control zones, this translates into queues that could stretch outside terminals, causing ripple effects across flight schedules and airline operations.
The Need for a New European Aviation Strategy
Beyond the short-term anxiety of the EES, Schulte addressed the long-term survival of the industry. He formally requested the European Commission to draft a new “Aviation Strategy,” arguing that the current framework is outdated and fails to account for geopolitical shifts and the demands of the green transition. European aviation is under pressure from competing hubs in the Middle East and Asia, while simultaneously being tasked with financing decarbonization without losing economic viability.
Schulte highlighted that the 2015 “Aviation Strategy for Europe” is no longer sufficient. “We need a framework that protects the competitiveness of European airports while ensuring that the transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) does not lead to prohibitive costs for passengers,” he stated. His call concerns the creation of an “Industrial Deal” for aviation, similar to what other industrial sectors in Europe are demanding.
The Role of Technology and Investment
The solution, according to the head of ACI Europe, lies not in halting progress but in smart investment. Airports are required to invest billions in digital infrastructure, from self-service kiosks to “on the move” biometric identification systems. However, these investments require regulatory stability. Schulte criticized the tendencies of some member states to impose unilateral aviation taxes, which he argues drain capital that could otherwise be directed toward green technology.
Of particular interest to Greece, Fraport Greece, which manages 14 regional airports, is closely monitoring these developments. The success of the Greek tourist season is directly dependent on the efficiency of border controls. A potential failure of the EES next year could damage the country's image as an accessible and friendly destination.
Conclusion: A Challenging Path to 2030
The renewal of Stefan Schulte’s mandate comes at a time when aviation must prove its value to a society increasingly critical of emissions but simultaneously demanding freedom of movement. His warning regarding the EES is a plea for the realism that must govern political decisions. If Europe wants to remain a global leader in aviation, it must balance security with convenience and ambition with practicality. The road to 2030 will be determined by whether Brussels heeds the warnings of the people who manage the continent’s gateways.
